My daughter just turned 2,
and I must confess: I worry about her. (Yes, I know Christians aren’t supposed
to “worry,” so I make myself feel better by claiming I’m just
“hyper-concerned.”)
My wife and I have cabinet
locks, drawer locks, outlet covers — you know, the standard safety
paraphernalia.

But as any Christian parent
can tell you, it’s not just my daughter’s physical safety that causes me
“hyper-concern.” I think about her spiritual well-being, too.

What kind of Christ-like
example will I be for her?

What decisions will she make
as she grows older?

How can I guide her in the
faith without pushing her away?

All in all, it’s a lot to
think about, and the pressure at times can feel overwhelming.

But there is one resounding
truth that helps me sleep at night, and it’s this: God is more concerned about
my little girl than I am.

His parenting is perfect,
even when mine falters.

Though God can work through
me, God reserves the right to work in spite of me.

For an uneasy father, I find
it comforting to know that God’s plan is much bigger than my own.

In today’s passage, Joseph
had a tremendously difficult decision to make. Joseph had just discovered that
his future bride was pregnant; nevertheless, God instructed him through a dream
to take Mary as his wife.

While we aren’t given the
inside scoop on the myriad of doubts and concerns that may have flooded Joseph’s
mind at this point, we know that he acted in obedience.

Do you ever wonder how this
angelic message affected the way Joseph reared the young Jesus? Did this dream
serve as a constant reminder that Joseph was parenting a child who was not his
own?

If so, then Joseph’s
reminder is one all parents should take to heart.

In other words, mothers and
fathers must never forget that children belong to God first, and to parents
second.

As a witness to Jesus’ birth
and life, Joseph saw the remarkable role he was playing in God’s unfolding
drama. In a wider sense, Joseph’s story speaks to all believers.

For Christians, Jesus still
serves as a reminder that we aren’t calling the shots. We aren’t writing our
own story; instead, we are finding our place in God’s story.

Just as Joseph’s plans for
his son had to take a backseat to God’s plans for His Son, believers must
remember that we are living lives that belong first and foremost to God.

ABOUT THE BIBLICAL RECORDER
Since 1833 the Biblical Recorder has served North Carolina Baptists as the Baptist State Convention's official news journal - with the emphasis on news. The paper was founded by Thomas Meredith, an early pastor, writer and denominational statesman in North Carolina.